The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared 11 barangays across the Negros Island Region (NIR) “drug-cleared,” an official said Wednesday, August 26.
The declaration was made during the 13th deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Clearing held in Dumaguete City, attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies, local government units (LGUs), and civilian sector partners.
PDEA-NIR Assistant Regional Director Marjorie Ballesteros identified the newly cleared barangays as Magsaysay and Nagsaha in Guihulngan City, and Poblacion 3, Mantuyop, and Napacao in Siaton, Negros Oriental.
In Negros Occidental, the barangays are Ani-e, Dolis, and Paghumayan in Calatrava; Zone 4 in Murcia; Zone 3 in Talisay City; and Buluangan in San Carlos City.
Ballesteros said a barangay is declared drug-cleared after persons who use drugs have undergone appropriate interventions and the barangay has implemented other activities required under the barangay drug-clearing program.
With the latest declaration, the total number of drug-cleared barangays in the region has reached more than 1,000, representing 78.34 percent of all barangays, based on PDEA-NIR records.
Of these, 544 are in Negros Occidental, 358 in Negros Oriental, 134 in Siquijor, and 23 in Bacolod City.
Ballesteros said previously cleared barangays must maintain their drug-cleared status through annual monitoring.
“If there are new personalities involved in illegal drugs, the local government unit must address these cases” to retain the barangay’s drug-cleared status, she said.
Meanwhile, PDEA-NIR continues to assist LGUs that have yet to establish a Balay Silangan Reformation Center, a community-based rehabilitation facility for individuals affected by illegal drugs.
Ballesteros clarified that LGUs do not need to construct a new building to establish a Balay Silangan, as they may use an existing suitable facility.
At least 20 Balay Silangan reformation centers have been established across the region, she said.
Officials of the Philippine National Police, Department of Health, LGUs, and other civilian sector stakeholders attended the deliberation.*PNA
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